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Career

How She Got There: Wendy Williams, Host of The Wendy Williams Show

Name: Wendy Williams
Age: 47
Job Title and Description: Host of The Wendy Williams Show
College/Major: Communications Major at Northeastern University
Website: www.wendyshow.com
Twitter Handle: @wendywilliams
 
Her Campus: You’ve had some incredible guests like Elizabeth Hurley and Jane Lynch. What are you most excited about this fall?
Wendy Williams: Everything! I’m excited about the prospect of meeting new guests and also continuing to reinforce the relationships I have with guests that have come on in the past two years. I’m looking forward to getting better as a talk show host. I feel very comfortable with my audience and doing live TV. We can all improve on the things that we do and I’m open to improvement in all aspects.
 
HC: We imagine a life in the day of Wendy Williams is super busy. Is there such a thing as a typical day or is your schedule ever changing?
WW: I do have my typical days. Today is Friday: the only show that is not live is Friday’s show; we actually tape on Thursday afternoon. On Fridays I wake up with my son and husband at 6 am (my husband is my manager and one of the co-producers of the show), get my son ready for school, and then I go to the gym. Generally speaking I leave Manhattan around 1:30 pm and I’m home around 3 pm. My son comes home around 3:30 pm and I make dinner a couple days a week. I’d say it’s pretty routine!
 
HC: How did you first get started in the industry?
WW: My first job in media was actually hosting a radio show at my college radio station. While I didn’t get paid, I worked it like a job: Be on time, be prepared. College, entry-level radio, and subsequently an internship were extremely important to me at that particular time. I secured my own job and I worked in the Virgin Islands and I had a radio show there. I made $2.75 an hour, which was minimum wage back in 1986 when I graduated. I was broke but I was happy! I did it on my own and that self-satisfaction was a wonderful thing.
 
HC: What is the best part of your job?
WW: Making people smile and enlightening others. I have a happy career and it came at just the right time.
 
HC: What advice would you give to a 20-something with similar career aspirations?

WW: Be diligent in your career and in your 20s. By your 30s you’re mixing other things into your career like a serious boyfriend, marriage, or children. We as women give up a lot more than men in terms of relationships. It’s still a man’s world but we have a new generation so let’s change that. I’m counting on you to fight the fight! Go after the big job and remember: Happiness is what makes you happy—not the dollar.
 
Collegiettes™: Head here for official TV listings of The Wendy Williams Show so you can tune in!
 

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Gennifer is the Branded Content Specialist for Her Campus Media. In her role, she manages all sponsored content across platforms including editorial, social, and newsletters. As one of HC's first-ever writers, she previously wrote about career, college life, and more as a national writer during her time at Hofstra University. She also helped launch the How She Got There section, where she interviewed inspiring women in various industries. She lives in New York City.